Gove’s anti-EU argument more fury than fact

Michael Gove has been widely praised for writing a well argued essay explaining why Britain should quit the EU. The justice minister’s case is actually full of misleading examples and downright contradictions.

“I believe that … the laws we must all obey and the taxes we must all pay should be decided by people we choose and who we can throw out if we want change”

Gove must also be aware that the government has a veto on EU harmonised taxes, so it can block any tax law it does not like. He also presumably knows that only 2.15% of the £600 billion-odd in taxes British people pay goes to the EU – and a big chunk of that comes back.

“Hundreds of new EU rules cross my desk none of which were requested by the UK Parliament”

The British government “support[s] strong State aid rules to ensure aid is well targeted ”, citing the benefits such strong rules can have for innovation, new market entrants and consumers. Leon Brittan, a British Conservative, bears a lot of the credit for the EU’s tough anti-subsidy rules. It’s odd that Gove is wearing a protectionist cloak.

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The government “cannot deport all the individuals who shouldn’t be in this country”

Of course, each situation needs to be taken on its own merits, and the government does not have unlimited freedom of action. It has to operate within the law. But isn’t that something Gove should welcome? In the very same essay where he rails against the government’s lack of untrammelled powers, the justice secretary sings the praises of checks and balances, noting with approval that “in Britain … we ensured no-one could be arbitrarily detained at the behest of the government”.

EU rules dictate … the distance houses have to be from heathland to prevent cats chasing birds (five kilometres).

Gove is presumably thinking of the Habitats Directive, which says countries should take “appropriate steps” to avoid disturbance of protected species in special conservation areas. But nowhere does it say houses can’t be built within 5 kilometres of such areas.

Under UK regulations implementing the directive, Natural England, the public body responsible for wildlife protection, can put the brakes on any building development plans which it feels might have a significant effect on such conservation areas. Natural England’s advice, reflected in local planning policy but not law, means those hoping to build within 5 kilometres of certain special protection areas must jump through various additional hoops. But even then there is no outright ban. Not only has Gove exaggerated the nature of the UK’s rules; the detail comes from Britain not Brussels.

EU rules dictate … the maximum size of containers in which olive oil may be sold (five litres)

EU rules on olive oilmarketing standards do impose a 5-litre limit for the containers olive oil is sold in. This is because, if olive oil is left around for too long, it risks going rancid. The rule is overkill. But what Gove doesn’t mention is that the EU allows countries to waive the 5-litre rule for those who might want or need to get their olive oil in greater containers, such as restaurants and hospitals. The UK decided not to. If Gove really thinks this is a big issue, he should be pushing our government, of which he is still a member, to change the rule.

Michael Gove’s office did not respond to InFacts’ request for comment.

This piece was updated on 23 February to add the material about cats chasing birds, and on 25 February to add material on olive oil.

3 Responses to “Gove’s anti-EU argument more fury than fact”

Sky News with Adam Bolton last night was full of errors, including some by a former Attorney General.
Some of it was so off beam that I wondered if
Did they mistake Denmark and Greenland?
Did they not know what the Maastrict Treaty is about?
Did they not know when ‘Article 50’ to which much reference was made, was adopted and in which major EU Treaty? (Lisbon)
The debate was therefore a farce, spending time on whether the Danish precedent could be used for a Boris Johnson type renegotiation….

You have an excellent article about the errors in Gove’s essay, great if you would take up Sky which is watched by a lot of people and Adam Bolton has considerable credibility. It was a bad day in the office….